Tory voters back VAT cut on energy bills

Almost two-thirds of 2019 Conservative voters prefer proposals for a VAT cut to the governmenet's policy, a new poll finds.  

A Yonder survey of 2,000 British adults, carried out between 10 and 11 January for the RSA as part of its Economic Security Observatory, finds: 

• Energy bills are a concern for most households: just 19% could afford a 40% rise. 
• 81% say that cutting VAT on energy bills would benefit their family, including 85% of people who voted Conservative at the 2019 general election.
• Asked whether they would prefer a universalist approach like cutting VAT (as proposed by Labour), or targeted help (as proposed by the Prime Minister), 58% of the public would prefer cutting VAT, rising to 62% of 2019 Conservative voters. Meanwhile 29% of the public, and 26% of Conservatives, prefer a targeted approach. Just 4% of the public and 5% of 2019 Tories believe the state should not intervene in energy markets.  

The public do not think green taxes are behind rising energy costs: 49% blame the crisis primarily on the rising cost of natural gas, 26% on profit-seeking by energy companies, and just 12% on green levies.  

But there are warning signs that economic insecurity could start to reduce support for the green agenda, the RSA warns: 61% of Brits say the cost-of-living is a higher priority for them at present than decarbonisation. 

The RSA calls for a carbon levy which would redistribute money from the wealthiest and most polluting households to those on low-and-middle incomes: 51% would support such a policy, the survey finds. 

Alan Lockey, head of the RSA’s future of work programme, said: 

“With economic insecurity so widespread — our survey shows 81% of Brits are concerned they cannot afford the coming hike in energy bills — we can’t limit help to just a few households if we want to maintain support for the essential move to decarbonisation.  

“Measures like a tax cut are a step forward, but ultimately we should move to a carbon levy if we want to cut emissions, help the most vulnerable, and ensure the shift to net-zero benefits ordinary families.” 

Ends 

Contact: 

Ash Singleton, Head of Media and Public Affairs, ash.singleton@rsa.org.uk, 07799 737 970. 

Notes:    

The RSA (royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) is an independent charity, committed to a future that works for everyone. A future where we can all participate in its creation.    

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